Winding flexible material



Oct. 23, 1956 w. P. TAYLOR, JR 2,767,933

WINDING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Filed March 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1956 w. P. TAYLOR, JR r 2,767,938

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WINDING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Filed March 26. 1953 4 Sheet-Sheet 4 d4 INVENTOR WL7EIP o fl W 212 (5-2:; w A ORNEYS United States Patent WINDING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Walter P. Taylor, In, New York, N. Y.

Application March 26, 1953, Serial No. 344,874

12 Claims. (Cl. 242-159) The invention relates to the winding of flexible material, and more especially to a package of flexible material and to a machine and method of producing this package.

In my Patents Nos. 2,634,922 and 2,634,923, I have described packages of flexible material in the form of layers of successive coils, each coil forming at least one figure 8, in which the crossovers of successive coils progress angularly around the axis of the package. Such coils are provided with a radial opening into the central core space through which the inner free end of the material is drawn out, thus equalizing twist and preventing snarlingand kinking of the material.

In those packages, the progression of crossovers continues around the axis of the package in the same direction from layer to layer, although this succession may be interrupted to form the opening.

In withdrawing material from such a package, the use i of a tube extending through the opening into the core space, through which tube the material is withdrawn, has been found desirable. However, it has been found that when the material between the last crossover on one side of the opening and the first crossover on the other side of the opening is payed out, there is danger that this length of material will rub against the tube and may even catch on it, which interferes with the proper payout. This occurs because the tube is located between these two successive crossovers.

The primary object of the instant invention is to provide a package of this type in which the payout is improved by the elimination of the disadvantages described above.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and a machine capable of producing such a package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package in which there are no successive crossovers on opposite sides of the opening.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a package in which the crossovers oscillate around the axis of the package, and do not progress continuously 1n one direction.

In general, the invention provides a package in whlch there is a set of crossovers progressing angularly around the package through an angle less than 360, then a second set progressing in the opposite direction through a slmilar angle, and so on. This arrangement both forms the opening through the body of the package and also prevents interference with payout since the length of materlal between successive crossovers near the opening need not cross the opening and Will not be pulled against the tube,

The machine on which the package is wound 1s, in ts specific form shown herein, a modification of that d1sclosed in Patent No. 2,634,918. That machine causes rotation of a spindle and oscillation of a guide out of phase so as to produce the angular progression of the crossovers, the direction of progression depending on whether the number of oscillations of the guide for the flexible material is slightly less or slightly greater than an integral multiple of one-half the number of rotations of the spindle, these being called plus and minus winds respectively. According o the present invention, the machine is so constructed as to wind with a plus wind during a given number of rotations of the spindle, less than enough to form a complete layer (that is, less than enough to produce a progression of crossovers through an angle of 360), and then with a minus wind for a similar period. This will produce the type of package referred to above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which can be used either for producing the packages described herein or for producing those shown in my Patent No. 2,634,922.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, es pecially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a detail view of the ratio changing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram; and

Figures 5 and 6 are winding diagrams of two packages produced according to the invention.

The machine is in general similar to that shown in the Taylor and Whipple Patent No. 2,634,918 referred to above. Part 4 drives through ratio changing mechanism 26 (the control for which is different in the present machine, as will be described below) a shaft 40 which causes reciprocation of a rod which oscillates guide carrier 86 and causes guide 96 to move back and forth along spindle 18, which is also driven by part 4. At intervals, cams 120, 122, cause simultaneous closing of switches 132, 134, 144 which deenergizes one solenoid to release a clutch 50 in the output of shaft 40 and energizes a brake solenoid 66 to stop temporarily the movement of guide 96. This forms packages of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,634,922.

According to the present invention, the speed change is produced by bodily movement of wheel 26 towards or away from shaft 36. Wheel 26 is mounted on a shaft 27 which is carried in one arm 29 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 31 on a support 33. Rocking movement of the arm is adjustably limited in one direction by engagement of screw 35 threaded in the other arm 37 of the bell crank lever with a bracket 39; and in the other direction by engagement of arm 37 with a screw 41 threaded in bracket 43 machine embodying Links 45 connect shaft 27 to solenoids 47, so that energization of one solenoid or the other will rock arm 29 and shaft 27 in one direction or the other as far as screws 35, 41 permit.

The wiring diagram (Figure 4) shows the control for solenoids 47. This diagram includes all the connections shown in the Taylor and Whipple Patent No. 2,634,918, and in addition has a switch 49 in the line between switch 134 and solenoid 160. This switch is combined with a switch 51 so that when one is open the other is closed. When switch 49 is closed, the machine operates as described in such prior application.

Switch 51, on the other hand, is connected to the two solenoids 47. The other ends of these are connected to a switch 53 for alternately connecting the solenoids to the current source. Connected between switch 134 and switch 51 is a solenoid 55 which, each time it is energized, changes switch 53 from one to the other of its two positions.

Screws 35, 41 are so adjusted as to produce a plus wind when bell crank lever 29, 37 is in one extreme position and a minus wind when it is in the other extreme position.

Now, let us assume that the machine is winding on plus wind (for example, twenty-nine complete oscillations of the guide for each sixty revolutions of the spindle), the upper solenoid 47 in Figure 4 being energized, and that switch 49 is open and switch 51 closed. The successive coils will then be wound on the spindle with their crossovers progressing angularly in one direction. This will continue for some period less than a full layer, depending on the setting of the cams which control the switches. At some point before a full layer is formed, all three of switches 132, 134 and 144 will be closed at the same time. This will energize solenoid 55 and shift switch 53 to the lower solenoid 47. Energization of this solenoid will shift change speed member 26 to its other extreme position, changing the ratio so that the machine will now operate on a minus wind (for example, thirtyone complete oscillations of the guide for each sixty rotations of the spindle), with the crossovers angularly progressing in the other direction around the package.

In this package, then, there will be, in the plane transverse to the axis of the spindle in which the crossovers lie, a portion of a certain angular extent in which no crossovers are present. This area forms the opening through which the inner free end of the material is to be drawn out.

During this operation, switch 164 remains closed so that solenoid 68 holds the clutch in engagement at all times.

Figure 5 shows a winding diagram of a package embodying the invention, representing two successive layers, the first shown in solid lines being wound with a negative advance and the second shown in broken lines being wound with a positive advance. The wind is a one wind, and for the positive and negative advances the guide makes twenty-nine and thirty-one complete oscillations, respectively, for each sixty revolutions of the spindle.

It will be understood in this and the succeeding diagram that points at the top and bottom of the chart at the same distance from the sides are the same point and therefore bear the same reference characters.

With the machine set for a negative advance, with the spindle rotating in the direction shown by the arrow, and with the guide moving towards the right, the first layer starts at :2 runs to a a reverses to a, a reverses to a a reverses to a a reverses to a a and so on. Lines a a and a a cross at while lines a, a and a a cross at e In other words, the crossovers of successive coils progress angularly around the spindle in this layer in the direction of rotation of the spindle.

The layer continues, coils being laid side by side with progression of the crossovers to a 0 reverses to a, (1 reverses to a a reverses to 11 reverses to 0 reverses to (1 reverses to 11 11 reverses to a a reverses and continues on to a, n reverses to a L733 reverses to a, (1 reverses ton, a reverses to a, [1 completing the first layer. The last full crossover is at c The cams now cause the other solenoid 47 to operate, shifting the change speed mechanism to a positive wind. The next layer (broken lines) is then formed from 41 to H, reverses to a a reverses to a, 11 reverses to a reverses to 0 a and so on. The crossovers 0 c progress angularly around the spindle in a direction opposite the direction of wind. This second layer continues to a reverses to a a reverses to a a reverses to a-, a reverses to a which is the end of the second layer and the beginning of the next one.

It will be apparent that this wind provides gutters of the same type as in my application S. N. 107,165, leaving an opening 12 through the layers where the gutters cross through which the inner free end of the material can be withdrawn.

It will also be clear that in the portion of the coil intermediate the ends (the central part in the chart), the lines and crossovers of the second layer are spaced from, or meshed between, those of the first layer, so that superimposition of crossovers in successive layers is avoided.

Fig. 6 is the winding diagram of a package in which all the crossovers are arranged in a limited area around the angle of the spindle. It will be assumed that the guide makes twenty-nine complete oscillations for each sixty rotations of the spindle in the positive wind, and thirty-one in the negative wind.

The first layer, shown in solid lines, starts at d with the uide moving towards the left. It runs to (1' reverses to d d reverses to d d reverses to :1 d and so on. Crossovers c 6 progress angularly around the spindle axis in the direction opposite the direction of rotation. The wind continues to d (where the guide is moving towards the right), (1 reverses to d d, reverses to r1 r1 reverses to d, d and reverses to d which ends the first layer, the last crossover of the layer being a.

The second layer (broken lines) now begins and runs to d", 41 reverses to d, d reverses to L1 (1 reverses to d (1 reverses to d d and so on. Crossovers c, c progress around the spindle in the direction of its rotation. This layer continues to d, d reverses to d d reverses to d d reverses to d and ends at d where a new layer like the first layer begins. The final crossover is 0 Again it will be noted that the layers mesh within each other, just as in Fig. 5.

The package herein shown can also be wound on a machine such as is described in my application for Machine for Winding Flexible Material, S. N. 344,876, filed March 26, 1953. In other words, the invention is not limited in all its aspects to the machine herein shown, or to a machine in which the spindle rotates on a fixed axis. The package may also be produced, for example, on spindles of other shapes, including those disclosed in my application for Winding Flexible Material (Case B) S. N. 344,875, filed March 26, 1953. It preferably uses payout tubes such as shown in my prior patents and applications referred to above or in my application for Package of Flexible Material, S. N. 344,873, filed March 26, 1953.

The invention is applicable both to resilient or relatively rigid flexible materials, such as wire, cable and tubing, as well as to textiles such as yarn, thread, cord or rope.

While I have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the claims hereto or hereinafter appended.

I claim:

1. A package of flexible material comprising a series of coils each forming at least one figure 8, each such coil having a crossover, said coils providing a core space through the package, one set of successive coils having its crossovers successively angularly spaced around the axis of the core space in one direction and the next set having the crossovers successively angularly spaced around the axis of the core space in the other direction, the total angular extent of the crossovers of any set of coils being less than 360, and the crossovers being arranged to leave a transverse opening through the coils into the core space, whereby the inner free end of the material can be led out through such opening.

2. A package of flexible material comprising a plurality of layers superposed on one another and each composed of a series of coils each forming at least one figure 8, each such coil having a crossover, said coils providing a core space through the package, the coils of one layer having their crossovers successively angularly spaced around the axis of the core space in one direction and the coils of the next layer having the crossovers successively angularly spaced around the axis of the core space in the other direction, the total angular extent of the crossovers of any set of coils being less than 360, and the crossovers being arranged to leave a transverse opening through the coils into the core space, whereby the inner free end of the material can be led out through such opening.

3. A package as claimed in claim 2 in which the coils of one layer in the area adjacent the crossovers lie between the coils of adjoining layers.

4. A package as claimed in claim 1 in which all the crossovers lie Within an angle of less than 180 around the axis of the spindle.

5. In a machine for winding flexible material, a spindle, means to rotate said spindle, and means to cause such relative movement between the flexible material and the spindle as to cause the flexible material to lay along the spindle in a series of coils each forming at least one figure 3, and means so interconnecting said spindle rotating means and said movement causing means that during one set of successive coils the ratio therebetween is such that during a given number of movements along the spindle the spindle is rotated a number of times which is less than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, and that during the next set of successive coils the ratio therebetween is such that during a given number of laying movements the spindle rotates a number of times which is more than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, whereby the crossovers of one set of coils progress angularly around the spindle in one direction and those of the other set in the other direction, and means controlled in synchronism with the rotating means and the movement causing means to cause said interconnecting means to change from a less to a greater ratio and vice versa after periods in which the crossovers of each set have progressed less than 360 around the axis of the spindle, thereby leaving an opening through which the inner end of the material can be drawn out.

6. In a machine for Winding flexible material, a spindle, means to rotate said spindle, a guide for flexible material, means to cause movement of the guide along the spindle, so as to lay the flexible material along the spindle in a series of coils each forming at least one figure 8, and means so interconnecting said spindle rotating means and said movement causing means that during one set of successive coils the ratio therebetween is such that during a given number of laying movements along the spindle the spindle rotates a number of times which is less than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, and that during the next set of successive coils the ratio therebetween is such that during a given number of laying movements the spindle rotates a number of times which is more than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, whereby the crossovers of one set of coils progress angularly around the spindle in one direction and those of the other set in the other direction, and means controlled in synchronism with the rotating means and the movement causing means to cause said interconnecting means to change from a less to a greater ratio and vice versa after periods in which the crossovers of each set have progressed less than 360 around the axis of the spindle, thereby leaving an opening through which the inner end of the material can be drawn out.

7. In a machine for winding flexible material, a spindle, means to rotate said spindle, a guide for flexible material, means to cause movement of the guide along the spindle, so as to lay the flexible material along the spindle in a series of coils each forming at least one figure 8, a common driving means for said spindle rotating means and said movement causing means, connections from said driving means to said spindle rotating means and to said movement causing means, speed changing means in at least one of said connections, and means controlled in synchronism with said spindle rotating means and said movement causing means and operated after periods less than those in which the angular extent of the crossovers of any set will equal 360 around the axis of the spindle to control said speed changing means so that during one set of successive coils the ratio between the spindle rotating means and the movement causing means is such that during a given number of laying movements along the spindle the spindle rotates a number of times which is less than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, and that during the next set of successive coils the ratio therebetween is such that during a given number of laying movements the spindle rotates a number of times which is more than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, whereby the crossovers of one set of coils progress angularly around th spindle in one direction and those of the other set in the other direction, thereby leaving an opening through which the inner end of the material can be drawn out.

8. In a machine as claimed in claim 7, cam means in said connecting means to control said controlled means.

9. In a method of winding flexible material in which such relative movement is caused between a spindle and a source of flexible material as to cause the material to form around the spindle in coils each forming at least one figure 8, the relative movement between the coils being such that the crossovers of successive coils progress angularly around the axis of the spindle, the step of varying the relative movement after periods less than those in which the crossovers progress through an angle of 360 in such a way that the crossovers during each period progress in the opposite direction from those in the preceding period.

10. A method of winding a package of flexible material which comprises producing such relative movements between a spindle and a source of flexible material as to cause the material from said source to shift back and forth along the spindle and to lay around the spindle, said movements being slightly out of phase so that during a given number of movements to lay the material around the spindle the material is shifted back and forth along the spindle a Whole number of times which difiers from an integral multiple of one-half such number of laying movements, whereby to lay up successive helical coils on the spindle each crossing the next preceding coil, the crossing points progressing angularly spaced around the package, and varying after periods less than those in which the crossing points progress through an angle of 360 the phase ratio in such a way that the crossing points during each period progress in the opposite direction from those in the preceding period.

11. A method of winding a package of flexible material which comprises producing such relative movements between a spindl and a source of flexible material as to cause the material from said source to shift back and forth along the spindle and to lay around the spindle for one set of successive coils in such ratio that during a given number of laying movements along the spindle the spindle is rotated a number of times which is less than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, and for the next set of successive coils in such ratio that during a given number of laying movements the spindle rotates a number of times which is more than an integral multiple of half the number of laying movements, whereby to lay up successful helical coils on the spindle each crossing the next preceding coil whereby the crossing points of one set of coils progress angularly around the spindle in one direction and those of the other set in the other direction, the angular extent of the crossing points of the coils of any set being less than 360.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the spindle is rotated about a fixed axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,789,794 Weidmann Jan. 20, 1931 2,358,294 Atherton Sept. 19, 1944 2,634,918 Taylor Apr.'14, 1953 2,634.923 Taylor Apr. 14, 1953 

